Internet Security and Its Role in Education

The benefits of the Internet are inarguable and what makes this technology even more welcome is its inherent ability to serve the cause of learning. Schools and students alike have been using this as a very effective tool not only in performing educational tasks but in promoting them as well. With the Internet, every educator is offered an avenue to reach out to his students in incredibly big ways. There just seems to be no limit as far as what a teacher can impart to his student with the use of the web. The spread of information is easy and so is communication. These days, even with a remotely located professor, education is still possible. This is how much the Internet has helped educational systems worldwide.
However, even with this seemingly perfect scenario, there remains a problem. Some people just can't help abusing it. These are online criminals who will stop at nothing to pursue their evil intentions from pedophilia to identity theft. Yes, even with the Internet's revolutionary advantages, it won't be foolproof. Someway, somehow, somebody's going to find a way to mess things up either with your computer or what's in it. Fortunately, there is a way to protect yourself.
In fact, staying safe online is no longer a hobby for the tech-savvy but simply a lifestyle for the Internet-smart. Simple security guidelines such as setting up a firewall can go a long way. However, it is also important to keep in mind that these online crooks are getting wiser and wiser everyday and there's always a new strategy of getting into your computer one way or another. The good news is, when it comes to protecting yourself, you can still rely on the basic precautionary measures plus a good deal of research. That means you do have to be updated on the latest viruses, worms and other online contaminants that may just find their way into your computer. By knowing what they are, how they work and what the experts recommend to ward them off, you should be fine.
If you haven't given Internet threats any serious thought, you probably don't even know what they are. There are even people who actually think these threats aren't for real. But if you know your Internet and you know your computer, you know what can happen. Take, for example, children who've had to see many ugly things online. If you have kids, it is always worth your while to keep a tab on the sites they visit. There are programs that allow you to do this so that even if you're not at home, you'd still know. However, when you can, it's best to monitor your kids' online activities personally and you can do this by putting the computer in an area where the rest of the family will be around.
Ensuring your online security basically has a lot to do with common sense. By avoiding revealing any type of sensitive information about yourself or your financial transactions through the web, you save yourself a great deal of trouble. For example, some scammers will email you while posing as a certain bank official and asking you to reveal your PIN or any other identifying information supposedly to update your account. This is, of course, bogus. We all know no financial institution or any other for that matter will request for such sensitive information over the Internet. However, some people can still be so naive they actually end up with their identities stolen.
There are more ways you can do to keep yourself safe online such as using advanced authentication tools with your bank or even your Internet service provider. Another basic measure is to simply ensure that you're typing the correct URL on the address bar or you could end up in a hacker's site. You can pretty much imagine what happens from there.
Even educators and students alike need to practice these Internet safeguards. This is important for these mentors in order to fully take advantage of the tremendous power they have in their hands in shaping young people's minds as well as their future. There can be many technologies they can use to ensure security such as firewalls and anti-malware.

Moms Need an Education

We all know that raising a family is tough! It takes most of our time and all of our finances! This isn't news to anyone. What you don't know is that as a mom, getting a degree can be paid for by scholarships! That education you fantasize about can be a reality sooner than you think!
Did you know the majority of single moms live below the poverty level? It is simply due to lack of education. We tell our kids how important college is, but what are we showing them? As a mom you are the role model, you set the bar, and help determine the future. When you go back to school and earn that degree you are showing your children very clearly how important education is to success. Just telling them can never be as powerful as showing them!
Once you have a degree you can get that job you are passionate about and stop worrying how the bills are going to be paid every month. The stress of financial issues is exhausting! Trying to stretch the few dollars you have to meet all the bills sometimes seems impossible. Is this really what you want to be doing 5 years from now? The only way to ensure a successful future is via education. You know this, you realize the importance, but simply can't afford to pay for school.
Let's take that issue away right now! Paying for school can be as easy as getting scholarships! They are available online by the hundreds! You just need to look for them. I know many people that have paid for their entire college education using nothing but scholarships. This is the perfect solution because scholarships never have to be repaid. They are not like student loans that leave you with an enormous debt that can take years to pay off.

Internet Security and Formal Education

Back then, people were amazed by movies and other media portraying cyber terrorism and the cool ways it can happen. Top secret FBI files being snatched right under the organization's nose, nations rising and falling by a mere transfer of digital data and eternal damnation being at the hands of the technologically adept few are examples of how powerful technology could be. Back then, these were all found in movies. Now, they have sneaked their way into the real society in the real world.
Any of these and other eventualities are highly possible. While there appears to be no question anymore about the unlimited possibilities that Internet technology, in particular, has brought to the capacity of man, this capacity has now touched critical levels. It is undeniable that anything and everything can now happen online. Thus, it is wise to be adequately educated about Internet security. The good news is, this education is not as difficult to build as it might appear. One can even get a comprehensive course on Internet security online.
It doesn't matter if moviemakers knew that what they portrayed in their films were bound to happen in reality. What's important is for us to realize that our capacity turn the impossible into reality with the use of technology has increased over the years. Because this capacity can be very well used for unscrupulous ends, the importance of protecting computer systems and valuable information is very great. Companies and government organization and even medium-sized to small business are now creating independent departments to handle the issue of online security.
For this reason, cyber security degrees have been created in cognizance of the fact that online crooks threatening everything from banking to national security have reached dangerous levels. Schools have begun to offer educational programs that allow individuals to have personalized learning materials which they can study at their own discretion. Private and public organizations have realized the need to educate their technical staff in order to ensure the highest level of security of private databases.
Online security as a problem has become as serious as eighty-one percent of businessmen giving it top priority in their business plans. It is, therefore, undeniably a huge concern.
Online security education is anyone's right. However, for one who has too little time to spare, simply using an IP hiding software usually provides more than enough protection.

Certified Court Reporters

The Senate and the House have passed a bill that will provide grants to educate court reporters specializing in realtime communication. These reporters will provide captioning for live television broadcasts, improving access for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

A Short History of Captioning

In 1980, American television started broadcasting the first closed-captioned programs. These broadcasts had subtitles so that deaf and hard of hearing viewers could enjoy programs along with everyone else.

Initially, these captions were limited to pre-recorded broadcasts. However there was soon a demand for captions on news, sporting events, and other live programs. This created a need for people who could transcribe the spoken word in real time.

Certified court reporters have been doing this for decades. Many reporters left the courtrooms for jobs at television stations. Despite the rise in captioning, many programs were still broadcast without captions making them inaccessible to many viewers.

Increased Demand for Realtime-Certified Court Reporters

In 1996, in response to public pressure as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act. This mandated that all new English television broadcasts must be captioned by 2006. It also required an increasing percentage of old programs be captioned.

The demand for certified court reporters skyrocketed as television stations searched in vain for people skilled in realtime captioning. Unfortunately as demand went up, the supply went down. Driven in part by fear that technology would make the profession obsolete, enrollment in court reporting schools plummeted.

Many schools closed and the number of graduates dwindled. The average court reporting agency saw their staff decline by 10% over this period. The 2006 deadline came and went and the caption goal was not met. The reporters needed just weren't there. Schools were educating only half the realtime reporters needed.

A New Initiative to Train Court Reporters

The Higher Education Reauthorization bill was introduced into Congress in 2007. Part of this bill was a program of grants to educate certified court reporters to meet the demands of realtime captioning.

Interested parties watched as the bill made its way through the tortuous paths of the federal government. In February 2008 the bill was passed by the House of Representatives and in July it passed the Senate.

As of this writing, the bill awaits the President's signature and advocates of the measure are cautiously optimistic that it will become a reality later this year.

The grants offered by this bill will offer incentive to aspiring court reporters and should increase enrollment. Over time, this should increase the supply of certified court reporters and ease the burden felt by both television stations and courtrooms over the lack of qualified candidates.